This is step 1 of maybe 2 in the quest of a better ride. We decided to do this after being frustrated with the poor ride characteristics of this hull and the configuration we have: single 225, no hard top, no second fuel tank. As for the ride issues, this is what we were experiencing:
- Unless heavily tabbed, the boat would constantly porpoise at cruise speed.
- In 2 ft chop with 4 adults on board the bow would ride high, porpoise constantly and pound unless fully tabbed down with the engine trimmed almost fully down.
* What was even more frustrating was watching numerous 20ft ish boats run the same water consistently flat with little movement and no pounding.
Grady customer service was perplexed by our complaint and did not think it had anything to do with freshwater operation. The only idea they could offer was to try a brand new prop like the one we already had. The speed vs. rpm of our prop was very close Grady's factory test #'s, so I was reluctant to go this route. Yes it is the factory Yamaha prop.
Ken at Prop Gods had never experienced a prop causing the issue I described. He thought the culprit might be fresh water and the engine being mounted too low. At the factory mounting height at WOT, the cavitation plate was buried. We moved up one hole (no more to go) and the plate is still under water at WOT and not exposed per Ken's recommendation. The boat did seem to run flatter in the chop and did not porpoise, but we only had 2 adults on board. I finally had some satisfaction knowing the boat would run as stable as the 20 ft Bayliner with 4 adults aboard running next to me!
raise
I think going higher with the engine is out of the question. I am not going to drill new mounting holes to go higher. The only other option is try a 4 blade, but I would hate to drop $500 to find out I gained nothing. Another option might be to add ballast to the bow.
Anyone out there got a better idea?
- Unless heavily tabbed, the boat would constantly porpoise at cruise speed.
- In 2 ft chop with 4 adults on board the bow would ride high, porpoise constantly and pound unless fully tabbed down with the engine trimmed almost fully down.
* What was even more frustrating was watching numerous 20ft ish boats run the same water consistently flat with little movement and no pounding.
Grady customer service was perplexed by our complaint and did not think it had anything to do with freshwater operation. The only idea they could offer was to try a brand new prop like the one we already had. The speed vs. rpm of our prop was very close Grady's factory test #'s, so I was reluctant to go this route. Yes it is the factory Yamaha prop.
Ken at Prop Gods had never experienced a prop causing the issue I described. He thought the culprit might be fresh water and the engine being mounted too low. At the factory mounting height at WOT, the cavitation plate was buried. We moved up one hole (no more to go) and the plate is still under water at WOT and not exposed per Ken's recommendation. The boat did seem to run flatter in the chop and did not porpoise, but we only had 2 adults on board. I finally had some satisfaction knowing the boat would run as stable as the 20 ft Bayliner with 4 adults aboard running next to me!
raise I think going higher with the engine is out of the question. I am not going to drill new mounting holes to go higher. The only other option is try a 4 blade, but I would hate to drop $500 to find out I gained nothing. Another option might be to add ballast to the bow.
Anyone out there got a better idea?
